Draw weight for hunting

[2Blade]

What is everyone shooting? What is the least you should shoot for deer hogs and turkey?

[BUFF]

66# @ 28" is what I used this year. I have bows from 56 to 74 that I swap back and forth between. I'm swure 50 would be enough for deer but you never know when a whooper hog may wander by

[Stephen_D]

I haven't actually hunted yet, but I purposely started at the legal minimum for NH; 40 lbs. It's a Viper. I read too many ads for used bows that had comments like, "Bought too much bow ... shoulder injury... etc". Tomorrow I expect my Horne Tradionalist to arrive. It's 47 lbs. And in late April I'll be on a combination bow making/hog hunt  in Carta Valley. The Dryad Hunter blank supplied by Mike Westvang will be finished at 50 lbs. I want bows that I can shoot 5 or 6 dozen times in a session and won't rip my shoulder.

I spoke with Mark Horne yesterday and he said he wouldn't hesitate to hunt elk with the bow he made for me.

[mcgroundstalker]

I like 50#'s myself...Same bow and weight for 3D, stump shooting, deer and turkey...Arrows weigh in at 550 grains/11 gr per pound draw weight...If I ever get a chance to hunt wild boar I'll add some more weight to my arrows...

... mike ...

[The Whittler]

I guess it depends on where you hunt, some states have a minimum weight. Alan

[James Wrenn]

I have been useing 46 to 48lbs the last few years.We still have to have 45lbs here for now but I think that is dropping to 40 this year and I might drop a couple of pounds on a bow for the blind.

[JL]

Shoot the most weight that feels comphy to you and is within your state's regulations.

I'm 43 years old, been shooting bows since I was a kid. I hunt deer with draw weights in hi 40's to low 50's. My primary hunting bow is 50 lbs and will absolutly smoke an arrow.

Word of advice. If your new to traditional equipment, start light and work your way up. Start with a bow that feels a tad light to you. Don't guage your shooting ability by how much weight you can pull but rather how consistantly you can hit your mark.

Everything else is fluff...

JL

[Traxx]

I second what JL said.Good advice,that should be listened too.You will thank him later.

[Shawn Leonard]

All my bows now are 52-55#s. I shot heavier bws for years and had to lighten up due to injuries and such. I want to say though, that I do not believe shooting those heavy bows contributed to my problems. I live life pretty hard and Always thought I took care of my body, but now I see I was rough on it. I would hunt anything in North america with those weights, but I would probably shoot 60+ pounds in I was going moose hunting, big ribs in those guys. I shoot between 8-10 grains per pound depending on the bow. Shawn

[katman]

Seems to be a common theme after a while, sometimes years, going to a lighter bow, took me 27 years but I can be thick headed. Listen to JL's advice good stuff.

[txcookie]

I shoot a 55# I wouldnt go below 50 if I was planning on hunting alot of hogs. Not that you cant do it I just wouldnt

[Jim Harris]

Most of my bows that I use for hunting are 50# to 54#. I use the same for 3d and stumpin'. Used to use heavier bows but have dropped down in recent years. My arrows are in the 500 grain + range. Be careful and don't over bow yourself. Jim

[Rico]

57# for deer 50# would feel lighter for awhile and 45# would probably get the job done. When I shoot my 67# which isn't often anymore, and switch back to the 57# feels like the limbs just broke for a few shots.

[RC]

I use between 48 and 55 at 27" and have no probl;em as long as I put`em where I`m supposed to. I have a friend John bookhart that shoots a 45 lb longbow, 2020 arrows and either landsharks or muzzy phantoms. Some say this is to light for hogs but I know for a fact it is not. He killed 23 on public land last year. A couple of bruisers in that number.Shoot whats comfortable and does not strain you. I hunted with around 45 one year due to a shoulder injury from shooting to heavy of a bow for me.I didn`t have a lot of confidence at the begining but after about a dozen deer and hogs I didn`t feel handicapped.RC

[Orion]

55#-60# and wood arrows.  Closer to 55# for deer size animals' closer to 60# for elk size animals.  Oh, and I just traded for a set of 51# limbs which should be dynamite on turkey.

[2Blade]

Im getting a 55lb longbow off of here from a fella and in June me and my dad are going on a hog hunt I just wanted to make sure that is enough killing power for a 20 yard shot. I know nothing of arrows and weight for a stickbow. Im going to be useing a Magnus Buzzcut Stinger 2 blade can you guys point me in the direction of shaft weight and broadhead weight? Should I go with a 100 or 125gr head? The bows draw is 28inches if that helps. Thanks all.